Prime Minister Stephen Harper today made the following remarks at the conclusion of the Nuclear Security Summit in Washington, D.C.:
“I thank President Obama for hosting a successful Summit. I am pleased that Canada’s goals for the Nuclear Security Summit have been met. The communiqué is strong and sets out a collective vision.
“Today, President Obama invited me to outline the state of international cooperation on nuclear security, including the significant role Canada has played since the establishment, at the Kananaskis Summit, of the Global Partnership Against the Spread of Weapons and Materials of Mass Destruction.
“Canada is proud of our record. Yesterday, I announced the return of highly enriched uranium from Canada to the United States, where it will be rendered unusable for nuclear weapons. Today, I was pleased to jointly announce, with President Obama and President Calderón, that Canada will also help fund the return of highly enriched nuclear material from Mexico to the United States as well as the conversion of Mexico’s research reactor to low enriched uranium.
“Canada will continue to work with countries through the Global Partnership to enhance nuclear security at their facilities and comply with international standards.
“This Summit, along with the Nuclear Proliferation Treaty Review Conference in May, and our G-8 Summit in Muskoka in June, will create the further momentum to protecting the world from nuclear terrorism.
“Finally, I would like to thank President Obama for his leadership as well as the importance he attaches to strengthening relationships with key allies.
“I should also mention that besides President Obama over the last couple of days, I was pleased to have bilateral talks with Prime Minister Singh of India, Prime Minister Dũng of Vietnam, President Piñera of Chile, Prime Minister Balkenende of the Netherlands, President Lula of Brazil, President Zuma of South Africa, President Hu of China and President Yanukovych of Ukraine.”
